Nikita Ens

Nikita Ens

Personal information
Born	(1988-10-19) October 19, 1988 (age 36) Vancouver, Canada
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Sport
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Disability class	S3
Club	Saskatoon Lasers
Medal record Paralympic swimming Representing  Canada World Championships 2022 Madeira 200m freestyle S3

Nikita Ens (born October 19, 1988) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international swimming competitions. She is a World silver medallist and has competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Nikita Ens was born in 1988 to parents Rod and Monica Ens. She attended Carpenter High School and was a high school provincial champion in shot put in 2006.^[3][4] In 2010, she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science in biology. She is pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies.^[5]

Career

After becoming paralyzed, Ens trained in track and field with the Saskatoon Cyclones. She was a medallist at the Canadian nationals.^[5] She made the standards for the Rio 2016 Paralympics but did not compete.^[6]

Ens began para-swimming in 2017 and joined the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club, training under Eric Kramer.^[6][7] She made her major international debut at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, where she competed in the 100-metre freestyle S3, the 50-metre freestyle S4, the 50-metre backstroke S3, and the 150-metre individual medley SM4.^[8] Going into Worlds, she held the Canadian records in S3 100-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke.^[7] She broke her record for the 100-metre freestyle S3 and qualified for two finals.^[6]

In June 2021, she competed in a para swimming World Series event in Germany, setting new personal best times in the 100-metre breaststroke SB2 and 200-metre freestyle S3.^[6] She made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Paralympics. She posted personal bests in all her races, but finished ninth in her heats the 50-metre backstroke S3 and the 100m freestyle S3 events, failing to post a top eight time to qualify for the finals.^[5]

She won a silver medal in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.^[3] At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Ens placed fifth in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 and in the 50-metre backstroke SB2.^[9] She will represent Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games.^[4]

Personal life

Ens became a C5 paraplegic in February 2014 following a car crash with an impaired driver near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.^[10][11]

References

1. "Nikita Ens - Canadian Paralympic Committee". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 14 June 2024.
2. "Nikita Ens - Swimming Canada". Swimming Canada. 14 June 2024.
3. Ambroziak, Phil (2022-06-23). "Former M.L. athlete takes silver at Para Swimming worlds". Northern Pride. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
4. Lehmann, Logan (2024-06-24). "Meadow Lake swimmer set to don maple leaf at Paris 2024 Paralympics". saskNOW. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
5. Shewaga, James (2024-07-24). "PATH TO PARIS: A second chance in France for USask alum Ens". USask News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
6. Flaherty, Ryan (2021-08-26). "Father's 'kick in the butt' set Nikita Ens on path to Tokyo Paralympics". Global News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
7. "Para swimmer Nikita Ens and her mom share equal admiration for each other". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
8. Holder, Bronwen (2021-08-27). "PREVIEW: Tammy Cunnington and Nikita Ens in Paralympic women's swimming". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
9. "Canada's Rivard successfully defends 100m freestyle title at Para swimming worlds". CBC. 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
10. "Athlete sets swim records". Northern Pride. 9 August 2018.
11. Roblin, Scott (2023-08-16). "Meadow Lake swimmer Nikita Ens on track for second Paralympics". CBC. Retrieved 2024-08-06.